Richard Francis Burton - Sword Exercise Nonsense?

Sir Richard Francis Burton's New System of Sword Exercise - Is it nonsense?
/ scholagladiatoria
/ historicalfencing
www.antique-swo...

[@bobito8997]

He translated the Karma Sutra Matt. I think that means he knew rather more about thrusting than you ;)

[@Alvarezpl]

Karma Sutra. :D

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@Alvarezpl The belief that your penetrations will somehow come back to penetrate you.

[@andrewshute9761]

I was so excited to see this video that I had to control myself to keep from commenting before actually watching it. I appreciate the fact that you never make things up. That's why yours is my favorite KZbin channel. Despite all of Burton's obvious and glaring flaws, I still love him. Maybe it's because I'm so obviously and glaringly flawed myself.

[@IPostSwords]

When are you finally gonna get Superdry to sponsor you?

[@frivvo7930]

who's superdry ?

[@frivvo7930]

ah ok

[@gfhjkfghj4208]

5 years ago I think.

[@scholagladiatoria]

I may actually contact them....

[@R8V10]

They must have obviously noticed but maybe because of the weaponry association they're reluctant?

[@100dfrost]

If he liked sex, and he was a linguist, was he a cunning linguist?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Watch the video. I got there first :-P

[@42astrutsen]

I thought getting there first wasn't the goal. ;) :P

[@digitaljanus]

This has 69 upvotes as of posting this comment. It would feel wrong to add another.

[@xiezicong]

Too late! Somebody else did

[@caradocapcunobelin2875]

John lets get Matts comment to 69 and keep it there dammit!

[@dunedainrangers1309]

Still love the guy. "'Ah, It has always been a matter of regret to me that I never quite succeeded in cutting a man in two. I very nearly did once..." We should all hope to live such lives.

[@KincadeCeltoSlav]

"How to fence against a Scarecrowe" - Sir Richard Burton

[@axebattler6604]

You're really improving the quality of your videos. Good use of images to go along with the commentary.

[@dwightehowell8179]

Something a lot of people don't get is just because you are the world's greatest expert in one field of knowledge doesn't mean you know jack about another. Read an account of Einstein having bicycle trouble and some young guy came along and fixed it for him. They later became friends but my point is pretty simple. He doesn't seem to have been much of a mechanic. Not all that surprising I suppose.

[@carbon1255]

His friend John von neumann WAS however an expert on everything. Also you need specific TOOLS to fix a bicycle.

[@MechaJutaro]

Yeah. Remember the tv show House MD. He's was an extremely bright guy in many respects, and also dim in others

[@squidfish7144]

It's a great example of how someone being an authority on one thing, or a few things, or having lots of personal experience in many situations doesn't automatically make them a credible authority on something else. There's no universal genius that's the go-to on every subject.

[@macnutz4206]

squidfish Thinking a person successful in one thing can be successful all things, is why Americans tend to elect celebrities to high office, yea though they fail so frequently.

[@squidfish7144]

Macnutz420 it's even true when someone has knowledge and experience with related fields, but still don't have the depth of knowledge on that particular subject to be an authority. That's why when Matt talks about Indian or Japanese or Sudanese swordsmanship, he always clarifies he's not an expert, and when making points tends to bring out firsthand sources by people that had direct experience, and presents his opinions as coming from the context of comparing it to what he knows better.

[@mallardtheduck406]

I only know of Jack Burton...he took down Lo Pan with a bootknife straight shot to the head. He said, "It's all in the reflexes". Had a grill on his truck The Porkchop Express that says Haulin' Ass.

[@deathsythelui]

And now in my head canon Jack Burton is a direct descendant of Sir Richard Burton, and it's _such_ a perfect fit that I'll never be able to watch BTILC the same way again...

[@mallardtheduck406]

L.D. Johnson That was a Great movie!!!

[@99IronDuke]

Burton not being politically correct is hardly a fair criticism in the context of the 19th century. Indeed many people despise political correctness even today.

[@eliasbram3710]

"I could do a cut number 1 in your head"...I never have been threatened by Matt Easton before. I feel In danger now

[@ZagorTeNayebo]

Takedowns of 19th century blowhards; truly this is the content I never knew that I always craved

[@xiezicong]

This video was way more entertaining than it had any right to be. But then again, I say that for the unboxings too, and those are splendid.

[@chuckhainsworth4801]

They 19th C blowhards are a unique species. Most of the can do something, but its buried under piles of ego and garnished with eccentricities.

[@00Trademark00]

Burton sounds a bit like a 19th century Lars Anderssen kind of a guy.

[@fidur2]

Lars at least puts up a good show. Burton SAYS he put a good show when no-one was looking.

[@00Trademark00]

Good point :)

[@emersonhardy7501]

I was thinking 19th century Chris Kyle

[@OlaftheFlashy]

He sounds like the sort who post uninformed comments on KZbin Videos. ...oh.

[@DRakshasa]

I bet he would be part of the Katana cult if he were born in this day and age.

[@sodalis]

You are so soft spoken, and humble, it's really fun to hear you lambaste someone.

[@CoffeePotato]

Something about seeing Superdry next to a picture of the Kama Sutra just cracks me up to no end.

[@MorbidEel]

A spherical man of uniform density ...

I don't know exactly if he was a "linguist" per se, but he had good methods to learn languages which is a bit different. A linguist study the structure of the languages but may not even be able to speak in the language he is studying. (a lot of them do though, often because language becomes a passion) This guy just found a very "modern" way to learn languages (practiced today almost as a norm) but may not be able to know the difference between a fricative or a labial. Think of it that way : you can learn to drive a car but it doesn't mean you know how to build one from A to Z. This is the difference between learning languages and being a scholar learning linguistics.

[@SquareyCircley]

I'd like to agree with you (as a linguistics student myself, haha) and it is certainly jarring for me to hear _linguist_ meaning 'someone who's good with languages', but it seems that *is* one normal meaning of the word for many people. For what its worth, most dictionaries seem to give something along the lines of 'person who is skilled at languages/speaks many languages' as one sense of the word.

[@allopez8563]

And all this time I thought he was a linguist because his abilities in the Kama Sutra

[@nuclearjanitors]

I have been desperately trying to get into Napoleonic abd Victorian era saber and smallsword for probably about 20 years now but me being as stubborn as i am, I really need a lot of exposer to things that don't immediately appeal to me. I've always been attracted to cruciform medieval blades, knights and all that (specifically crusade era, late 11th centry to 13th century) but repeated exposure to sabers throughout your videos (i won't lie i just got into your channel about a year ago, and just discovered one of my now favorite movies, the Duelists) has finally done the trick. Thanks Matt, you are the best at what you do (in my opinion). If you ever cost the States, Queen City Charlotte North Carolina by chance, i wouldn't mind grabbing a beer. Best wishes my dude.

[@Vaylash]

I love whenever Matt gives negative reviews. They're my favourite. He just rips into them but in the nicest possible way.

[@glorrin]

I only knew Sir Richard Francis Burton from, "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" by Philp Jose Farmer. His character makes it a perfect novel sci fi hero.

[@davidtozzo4530]

Robin Dehu that's where I first learned about him!

[@dcbanacek2]

I read that when I was very young and up till that point the only Richard Burton I knew of was the actor, I was greatly confused for awhile.

[@jellyghost1023]

Robin Dehu same here. Fantastic book

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

Humble opinion: Farmer is one of the best sci fi authors ever.

[@corvo6]

So he is kind of like flashman, but also wrote stuff down.

[@minuteman4199]

Flashman wrote stuff down too!

[@arpioisme]

burton was just making a 19th century paradox on fencing

[@scholagladiatoria]

He may have been the 1876 version of shit posting.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Or trolling.

[@TyLarson]

You get a Silver medal for that defense of the paradox here.

[@arpioisme]

Ty Larson ha!

[@arpioisme]

burton will be a honorary member of hema alternative fact group.

[@MH-ln6pv]

Fascinating. Thank you for this. I read Brodie's biography of Burton (The Devil Drives) last year and had been wondering about the sword manual and its contents as it is given mythic status in the book. Your analysis has been a great insight for someone like me who doesn't have a deep knowledge of fencing, swords etc. Reminded me of the occasions when people subjected T E Lawrence's accounts to some 'time and motion' and concluded that some accounts didn't add up. (Not sure about your new look though, Lindy).

[@1965anthony]

I think that if he was around today the description would be 'larger than life'. But he would have one hell of a KZbin Channel.

[@1965anthony]

I have a soft spot for him tho because he is the hero of the steampunk book 'The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack' by Mark Hodder. In this he is essentially a cross between Brian Blessed and Harry Flashman. That might not be the real RFB, but it is how he would have wanted to be remembered.

[@Yeknodathon]

As soon as I heard "round face" I instantly imagined a bouncy orange Space Hopper. I can't quite understand why this should be, especially as Space Hoppers are not round either and don't have legs but no doubt it will be a live, active part of my continuing training in military sabre. This insight will produce great things and another leap [sic.] forwards in progress.

[@eswain4785]

Really nice analysis of Burton's sword excercise manual. A great insight into Burton in his time. Just like many writers through history he seems to have wanted to feed the market regardless of his actual knowledge. Really enjoyed this video, thankyou!

[@HistoryNeedsYou]

I profiled Burton on BBC Radio 4 last year. You are absolutely right to be sceptical about him and to expose his egotistical nonsense.

[@ianburton8050]

You seem like an informed/educated critic let's have an argument. Give me a few examples where he talked nonsense.

[@TaurusSI]

Burton sounds like that american who claimed he fought in Kumite.

[@robertgibson6687]

TaurusSI the difference is with Frank Dux, his brand of bullshido is easy to disprove. Richard Burton, on the other hand, there isn't the same mountain of evidence pointing out the obvious lies.

[@cvbpo]

Robert Gibson is he the guy who went out in the woods saying that where we fight at and then days later he comes out with a trophies saying he won......not like he did not all ready have the damn thing in the bag in the first place lol

[@RambleOn07]

cvbpo Nah that was a different guy

[@stevenseargeant6450]

That was a chick! Luna-- the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf Bitch-- was actually kind of hot...

[@bBAKERSTREET-gz8bn]

execpt he actually did...go tell that to van damme

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Also, if you haven't memorized what the numbers mean, wouldn't saying a cut ( insert number here) be a lot vaguer than describing the cut direction and location?

[@eyegrinder94]

You can't judge the merits of a system based on the perspective of someone who hasn't learnt it.

[@alpharage1090]

"I have seen a few people who are absolutely circular." Also I have used cut 8 in tournament. It is my go to if I fail a geisel and am forced to squat down. Groin protection manufacturers love me.

Not every FMA system use that exact system, but arguable some variation of it. Some use 9 angles, some use 4, some use 6 etc. But ita just variations

[@patrichausammann]

So I guess, Richard Francis Burton did not know the Vitruvian man of Leonardo Da Vinci. 😓🤣 It seems "funny", in a sad way, that some people try to reinvent the wheel over and over again, despite it exists already. But in the case of Burton, he did not even managed to archieve a circular drawing🤣. Or was this intended?😉 Maybe, he was trying to manipulate the readers view and tried therefore to put his writtings in a better light (> selfishness?!)😔.

[@572891]

Haha, Dicky :D

[@lotoreo]

4:09 For fuck's sake... xD

[@Sacharius]

It was an excellent pun, you have to agree...

[@OlaftheFlashy]

Literally for fuck's sake.

[@alfatazer_8991]

Exactly.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

Another good one Matt. Burton's flaws don't deter my interest in him of course. What a life well lived....And the quite famous actor if the same name apparently took his name from this famous 19th century rake.

[@ianburton8050]

No Richard Burton the actor was an orphan, and took the name of his adoptive father a Burton.

[@justsomeguy3931]

I have a simple system for cuts. Use the "o' clock" position and name the target. 3 'o clock cut is from your right traveling left, 12 o' clock is straight down. Then you've got thrust to (target). Simple. Strikes done. I've yet to think of a simple way to describe parries, blocks, and beating aside incoming strikes with strikes of your own.

[@althesmith]

I think Burton would be deservedly more obscure if a certain Sci-fi writer hadn't been obsessed with him.

[@callumtostevin-hall2044]

Sorry to have to correct you Matt but John Gaspard Le Marchant wasn't from French stock, he was a Guernseyman. (Guernsey being a small island in the English Channel, a Crown Dependancy and a remainder of the Duchy of Normandy) The Le Marchants are an old influential Guernsey family that go back to the 13th century at least and probably further. Interestingly there is a Fort named in John Gaspard's honour called Fort Le Marchant in Guernsey.

[@eoagr1780]

Why sport fencing sabre has different numbers, and a oversimplified cut parry number system ? Correct me if I’m wrong, in sport sabre 5 can be 1,2 and7. 4 would be 4 and 6. And 3 it’s 3 and 6. Lastly 8 does exist but as a hit with the false edge, which is not really common. I wish Angelo’s cut numbers was used in sport f as well, sometimes it’s a mess to talk about sport fencing actions, it lacks detail.for example: I’ve done faints to 3 to get either under the arm or ribs (Oversimplification in sport f, makes it difficult to describe and to imagine the actions) If I were to use military sabre cuts numbers I simply say, I’ve done faints to 6 and then proceed with a no.3 cut to the forearm or chest.

[@jamesmoechnig3855]

The excellent description of the standard system of numbered cuts was well worth my time. Maybe you'd done a vid about it before, but I was not aware and now am. Thanks!

[@rogerlafrance6355]

By the middle of 1800's book publishing was quite easy and often quite profitable. Go into a proper military or other research library and shelves full of them. Seems like every military officer wrote a book. German, French and British Equitation books go on and on about how the others are doing it wrong. Of course besides making a few Pounds, the thought of getting a position at Sandhurst, Samur, Hanover or even a Royal Stud was a great incentive. Burton did quite well but if you look into say Kama Sutra he had help from Indian translators and experts.

[@myparceltape1169]

No idea how useful he was with a sword but I was surprised to see this book listed in his bibliography. Two things occurred to me, 1/Why does he not use a pistol? 2/It reminds me of a sergeant showing off to a females farm owner in a book, was it 'Far from the Madding Crowd'? I never expected to find that book among the other titles.

[@Gloin79]

"When I see these things I like to grab them" , sadly the police officer did not see this as a valid excuse

[@MrOdrzut]

What's wrong with usiung radians for angles? "I did the half PI cut to his head."

[@ZeuzBluez]

Sir Richard Burton is the greatest and wisest English man ever lived IMO. follower of '' the teaching abhorr'd that maketh mind a secretion, soul a word ''

[@the51project]

Norman Stanley Fletcher - Fighting in Confined Spaces.

[@probusexcogitatoris736]

This Burton guy strikes me as quite narcissistic.

[@stevechurch3131]

I tried to cut 3, but my opponent moved and i kinda 6'd. Opps

[@GDL1181]

His moustache alone deserves a chapter in history :P

[@42astrutsen]

I recognized the numbers from my phillipino martial arts training. Usefull system. :)

[@swordmaster9951]

+Simon Annmo +IIIMuerteIII Medieval Longsword, historical presentation, kzbin.info/www/bejne/roTWaJenqst8fas

[@xinfinity8532]

+Simon Annmo Longsword, historical presentation, kzbin.info/www/bejne/roTWaJenqst8fas

[@42astrutsen]

I've practiced Innosanto style escrima. I see its uses. You just have to think and not take in anything unreflected.

[@GCurl]

gilderoy lockhart in real XD

[@smallerthansmall]

Is it not possible, that he was making fun of other experts? Or was he really serious? i just can not imagine... :O

[@ZagorTeNayebo]

It's also possible he was a twat

[@wlewisiii]

I am really glad to watch this. As someone who has briefly tried reading his book as a newby to saber, there was a lot that seemed ... odd is probably the best word ... about it. I think I'm going to stick to O'Rourke's 1873 manual as an American with an US M1860 light saber while reading enough of the earlier English works to understand where it came from.

[@willbrown2383]

I think I have identified the point of failure of this review. Your judgement of Burton's sword technique is spot on, as usual. You have missed entirely the point of Burton's publication however. He wasn't promoting a new school of swordsmanship, he was promoting the idea of "Sir Richard Francis Burton, Iconic Briton". In support of this thesis, I submit the century plus of worship he has achieved as a result of his self-promotional efforts.

[@capitantesla7400]

Well, categorizing the cuts in 7 types by the angle is also a thing in renaissance treatises (Marozzo and Manciolino for sure), where are often used specific words for referring to specific cuts (a famous example I guess is the Meyer square even if it use only 4 cuts for training purposes).

[@siestatime4638]

The only times Burton's credibility is called into question is when there are witnesses.

[@ianburton8050]

Such as? Name an example and we'll check it out, or are you talking out of your arse?

[@lazyjackass77]

The act of definition inherently assigns boundaries and limitations equal to the degree of specificity of the definition. In martial arts, specificity has its place if it can exist without a terrible amount of detriment to the effectiveness its techniques, does not compromise the proper teaching and learning of its techniques to its students, and remains harmonious with the style to which it belongs.

[@verysurvival]

Burton sounds a bit like Lindy Beige . But less irritating

[@pasqualinobillwilder]

Richard Burton annihilates you in a sword fight any day of the week...

[@gregorstamejcic2355]

So... It's like Maisie Williams publishing a book on medieval swordplay based on her experiences in Westeros? I'd buy that, just wouldn't take it seriously...

[@carbon1255]

At least she was taught by the first sword of bravos :P

[@daaaah_whoosh]

Hmm. Matt, if you read this comment, any thoughts on Roworth? I was considering using his infantry sword manual as a basis for learning/teaching saber. It seems like it's a bit earlier than Angelo and definitely earlier than Hutton, I'm worried that you didn't mention him here though.

[@samprastherabbit]

He must have written his sword book as a supreme exercise in irony & satire. Or at least that's what I'm sure his fans would say!

[@RVM451]

Matt, Can I get a copy of Angelo's manual online? So, I had several of Burton's books about Africa downloaded from Gutenberg, but haven't read them yet. Do they fall into the "Burn Before Reading" category? …..RVM45 PS-Does the Left-Handed swordsman use a mirror reverse system of numbering?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Angelo's manual is scanned and available on the Schola Gladiatoria website. Burton was quite racist, even for his own times... but in my view he is still worth reading, even if I'm sure he made up a lot of stuff. Left-handers reverse the numbers, yes.

[@brucetucker4847]

You could theoretically complete Burton's system with numbered cuts for every angle and to every part of the body, but the problem you're left with is that that's way too many numbered cuts for anyone to remember. If you say "give him a cut # 37" in class the students, or at least the ones who aren't already experts in Burton's system, will never remember if that's a leftwards cut at the right leg or a rightwards cut at the left arm. What Angelo's system does is combine a reasonably small number of cuts by angle - seven - with a designation of targets that everyone can understand and remember because we all have the same body parts. It's a system that's *both* adequately precise and descriptive *and* easy to remember without either taking out the book for reference or spending many, many hours memorizing the list.

[@MrHaunter88]

Now... not judging a gentleman by his moustache, but there wouldn't happen to be a section on sword swallowing, would there? :P

[@arpioisme]

MrHaunter88 tell that to master ken

[@witchkinglp]

I don't believe he was homosexual ;)

[@MrHaunter88]

Hehe well he was an adventuerer, who knows where those did take him ;) However joking aside I did enjoy this video as it both lends some information of people who did instructions on sword fencing well and less well. Very jelous of those copies of books! I Always try to find books from as far back as possible of any subject really as they each have a history behind them.

[@richardgonzalesgonzales3529]

Sir Richard Francis Burton : Single handedly destroyed and plundered , My beloved Spanish Armada ... ( No wait ! That was Sir Francis Drake and His Dragoons ... a little bit in My cups here ,Mate ) I mean : He single handedly deflowered , impregnated , and taught an entire Armadas’ worth of wenches how to fuck properly ...perhaps He was scorned by The Scholastic SwordsMen of His time , due to His hands on instinctive and reflexive methods ; so tried and true , and personalized to what one could refer to as a:” Spiritual Degree” ... ( speaking of His battlefield Swordsmanship ,not His Golden Belt in Cockjitsu ...but perhaps in that area aswell) A True Warrior , Who defined His own epoch ( This : We can not deny ) despite His linguistic talents , was in no doubt , most critical of His vocation of living by The Sword , as it were and still stands , I say : most critical of His absolute way of life : being condensed and simplified into one tiny easy to devour brochure ... all of His contemporaries ignored The Heroic Adventurer out of fear ... did anyone of them ever openly criticize Him ( Which would have been cause enough for a Duel ) or in any such way minimize or belittle This Robust Rebel , to His face? To Sir Dick , life itself , was one mighty sword thrust ... whether it was aimed into the heart of a foe ; or betwixt the inviting thighs of some winsome wench ... Long Live The Fire Breathing , Triple Sworded Dragon of The Karma Sutra !

[@NoahWeisbrod]

If you fence left-handed, are the cuts mirrored? Is it more important for a #1 cut to be from the right to the left (the same direction) or from the outside to the inside (the same biomechanics)?

[@richardmyers6365]

Ive wondered if there was a Spanish connection with Doce Pares/the 12 strikes as seen in the Kali escrima literature and Burton's 12 cut exercise. Burton's only contains cuts and the escrima versions contain both cuts and thrusts. It's kind of a stretch, I guess.

[@kleinjahr]

You'll find the cut diagram in cane/stick fighting manuals as well. It may have evolved out of the Spanish School, as a simplification. As for Burton, it does seem he is over complicating things. I did find his Book of the Sword interesting, though it could use an update to correct his errors. His life of adventure? Probably wise to take it with a grain of salt. He was a contemporary of P.T. Barnum after all. If you take everything he says as the absolute truth, then you might as well take the Flashman Papers the same way.

[@seanking2253]

Don't forget that time Burton fought against Cyrano de Bergerac on a sinking boat.

[@Mtonazzi]

Honest question: if I'm left handed and I do (for this example) a downwards cut from left to right, which is my dominant hand and would be a #2 cut for a right handed, would this be still a #2 cut or a #1 cut?

[@winkleried]

What is interesting in Burton's Bayonet manual in 1853. he actually recommends that the reader of his book consult Angelo's books.....I wonder what happened between the two ?

[@levifontaine8186]

Maybe he understood that Angelo's style was so good at defending the legs that he wouldn't bother with any leg attacks. Roworth is also quite good about the shift and counter.

[@penttikoivuniemi2146]

Are we looking at the birth of the glorious field of keyboard warriorism here? A lot of the stuff he says is so similar it's almost not even funny to the stuff folks who look at Axel Petterson or Dennis Ljunqvist fighting and say shit like "I have fought better, how bad are people in HEMA" and who at best have sad foam-weapon videos.

[@elgostine]

no, every man and his dog publishing treatises and being self proclaimed experts dates back to the 16th century with the rise of pike and musket armies and new, very mathematically derived systems of army organisation

[@johnladuke6475]

@@elgostine But how many of them were in shitpost-format, intentionally taking issue with one actual expert and spewing authoritatively stated bullshit specifically designed to suggest that the expert is wrong? I mean, that comment about circular people could literally be cut-and-pasted as a youtube comment, all it's missing is "that would get you killed on the street".

[@elgostine]

@@johnladuke6475 have you read george silver, or fiore? hes smack talking other masters constantly. the idea of putting down other authors to advance your own work is par for the course and has been for centuries

[@johnladuke6475]

@@elgostine Well sure, self-promotion is pretty common, but the tone is striking. Fiore reads like a grizzled ex-special forces guy in a bar, "I've killed five guys for questioning my swordsmanship." That passage from Burton about the circle seriously reads like some of the couch-ninja comments under a lot of these videos.

[@listsforthecurious]

I've looked at a couple of broadsword fencing texts from around the time of the excercise being discussed. I agree it seems silly, but I'm wondering if there was a general tendency to focus more at specific parts of the body, rather than specific angles of attack (like in Angelo's system) under the influence of continental swordsmanship. I found an Broadsword manual published in the USA from within a decade or two of Burton's exercise, by a Sardinian named Riboni. His cut exercises are not numbered, but named according to the parts of the body they attack: right cheek, left flank etc. Was this more typical of continental styles of fencing? And possibly those systems that focused more on the use fo the point? I wonder if the contempt Burton expressed for Angelo's target was just a trendy preference for cuts against specific parts of the body at the time?

[@marcondespaulo]

I trained in FMA for a while and it was very clear that numbers were direction of blows or cuts.

[@YouTubalcaine]

When I was about twelve or thirteen my (then divorced) Mom briefly dated a guy like Sir Richard. Although he didn't run in the same social circles this fella also fancied himself a noble fencer, and had that same abrasive pontificating manner you describe. My brothers and I had been waging war upon each other (and the numerous goblins troubling our farm) with homemade wooden wasters for years, but he was convinced his classical book-knowledge and cultured Renaissance form was far superior to our vulgar barbarian fashion. The thrust is more sophisticated than the cut, yadda, yadda. You know how it goes with rapier fanbois who don't have to worry about getting their noses and thumbs broken on careless double hits, and where the actual prospect of fatality is an extremely improbable and rarely considered event. Naturally it wasn't long before he challenged me to a duel. Aye, it seemed a "simple" peasant child provided an opportunity to assert his intellectual dominance and presented an easy target to show off his martial prowess, all to glorify his inflated ego. Mom was ready to intervene (it was plainly rude behavior for a romantic guest and win or lose there was no positive outcome for him), but even at that young and dumb age we knew manure when it was rubbed in our faces (and I was man of the house, after all) so it was to his misfortune that I would take up the gauntlet he'd thrown down. In the first exchange, faster than you can say "my name is Inigo Montoya", his sword was on the ground (as would his bruised hand have been had the blades been live), my savage point was at his throat and his eyes were as big as saucers. You could smell the adrenaline dump. (And was that a whiff of urine?) So much for the fancy gentleman and his pretty theories, eh? That's what arrogance and linear thinking gets you. I don't know what lofty philosophies he learned in that school, but they sure didn't teach him how to fight. Fortunately, he did at least gain enough awareness from the school of hard knocks to recognize what an ass he was making of himself in front of his date and he refrained from pressing the issue. Yes sir, you can sing the praises of Wootz, but I still say there's nothing like a nice piece of hickory to adjust a ruffian's overbearing attitude. It's funny, we never did see that wheedling popinjay around again after that. Defending the honor of the lady fair that day was perhaps the only knightly act I've ever made in my errant life, but this little rambling anecdote _serves_ to illustrate the difference between the art of the sword and a weekend LARP. In combat nobody cares how cool you think you are. _"The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle. It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive in combat. Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. You will become dead Marines and then you will be in a world of shit because Marines are not allowed to die without permission. Do you maggots understand?"_ - GySgt Hartman

[@paulmanson253]

Many many years ago the SF writer Philip Jose Farmer based a portion of his Riverworld novels on Burton. There was something about the whole thing which never sat right with me. Burton was clearly a grandstander,a showboater. Showing off to the crowd was important to him. His wife burned large portions of his writings after his death and certain scholars bemoaned the loss. Glad you brought this to light. It is easy to get caught up in ego,certain of his claims he was convinced would never be duplicated and I tried to read some of his minor stuff that was available . Heavy handed and egotistical,could never finish or even get very far. My own warning lights went off that I do remember. Was his education so poor he could not or would not read what was probably the standard text on a subject ? Or did he just glance at it and toss ? He must have known men spending time in a salle d'armes would read his stuff. He died at a time swordsmanship was still culturally important. Why spout nonsense ? That brings the rest of his claims in to question. He must have recognized that.

[@57WillysCJ]

So he would be a great KZbin presenter. Not to mention social media. He would make the Kardashians cry.

[@thekenneth3486]

Go, Matt! At a few of your ranty-er episodes, I almost thought I was watching the Metatron (I do not mean that insultingly). I thought you might say, "What a muppet!"

[@Altarahhn]

The Kenneth Yeah, Raff WOULD call him a muppet! Or he might more on the civil side, too, but who knows? (I personally think Burton's "system" would elicit a rant more than anything else!)

[@elcroquetero9850]

Hi Matt!! I was wondering if you could make a video talking about all or the more common kinds and styles of handle-wrapping in swords through Europe's history. I haven't seen many articles on the internet talking about it, being it more of an artistic approach when analysing swords rather than functional matter.

[@jesseboyd8660]

"He just made shit up!" -Matt Easton, Feb 2018. Fucking love it! Good informative vid as always Matt!

[@Gertiepatroler]

First sword book I ever bought back in the 80's, Book of the Sword. Pretty difficult reading for a 12 year old, but pre-internet we toughed through it because info was hard to come by.

[@n4m31355h4dow]

After drop the mic we have drop the book

[@philthycat1408]

Sounds like a lot of jealousy going on here.

[@iceicebabys]

Hi Matt. Could you make a few comments about gilted scabbards for 1796 officers light cavalry sabres? I purchased a light cavalry sabre a while back to start my collection and there is clear remnants of gilt on the scabbard which I did not expect. I've only managed to find 1 other example and the listing didn't speak to it. love the videos. I've always loved swords and medieval weaponry but you have brought my interest into later periods which is great as it now means I can afford to start collecting the swords themselves! So far I've just got my officers light cavalry sabre and US Civil War Staff and field officer Sword (cheap for so much history!).

[@artawhirler]

Maybe the reason nobody saw him fighting off the Somalis was because his sword was moving so fast the human eye couldn't even follow it.

[@nemdrazil]

If I surmise correctly, the original design of the circular diagram is based on DaVinci's "Venetian Man" diagram, which makes perfect sense when organizing a system of description for combat.

[@thatdapperchap8314]

Vitruvian, not Venitian. If anything he was more likely Milanese than Venitian ;)

[@karinefonte516]

Not to mention the 7 cuts are even older than the 16th century, they're on Fiore dei Liberi's studies on late 14th century.

[@RonOhio]

Burton had an "I" problem. Today he would one of those "No shit, there I was. . ."

[@thomaswilkinson3241]

A system like Mr.Burton's is far to complicated and specific it seems to me.

[@sb-ant6457]

I'm a fanboy of cut eight.

[@bobmilaplace3816]

Yah that might be my only complaint about Angelo on saber

[@nathanbrown8680]

Cut eight's a little awkward, but kick eight's blasted useful. Never seen anyone use kick one or two, though.

[@ME-hm7zm]

Ow, my balls!

[@SarahExpereinceRequiem]

Numbered guards and cuts? In my day we stood in middle iron door and we liked it! -old Italian guy probably

[@raymondgood6555]

Fact is he was the greatest polymath of the 19th century.

[@PaulDeFitter]

Don't beat about the bush Matt !

[@arpioisme]

are there still angelo's heir in london?

[@s.w.4409]

rahadian panji oki Yes, one of them is called Matt Easton.

[@defuse56]

No doubt you are completely correct in your criticisms. However, when I read about the Victorian military, I have to consider that these guys were fighting to kill one another with real sabers. This took, imho, real nerve. My hat's off to all of 'em, and will remain so, since I've never had to fight to the death with a sword. Must've been a terrifying proposition.

[@erikgranqvist3680]

May be he didnt include any cuts to the legs, because be never saw a man with legs?

[@bobmilaplace3816]

Its possible that during the British Occupation of Manila (1762-1764) some Filipino guy might have picked it up or vice versa